Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-08-24
ment of the narrow house where he dwelt
oroxu 1nhao ro h1a

grew unbearable.
Ralph loved Nature in every mood, bu
perhaps best in her more turbulent ones
they suited the impatient longing in hi
mind for fuller life and more intensity o
action. He wearied at all times of tht
stagnation and monotony round him
wearied of minds that could give him M
stimulous, and found we'll nigh intolerablt
round of daily life that seemed to have
no result save the bare utilizing of the fac
of living; and now. that he was severed
from the one creature that had sympa
thized with his wants and understood hi!
nature, he was more and more restless anC
dissatisfied.
| Spite of the coming storm, he had wan
dered out on to the moor, had seen the
great clouds gather and break, and watch
ed the startled creatures of the fields hud
die together for shelter, or seek hastily
their holes and coverts for safety.
He had himself taken refuge from the
pouring rain under an overhanging ledge
of rock, from whence he could watch the
rushing stream, the play of the dazzling
fire amid the somber clouds and the. sud.
lden lighting up Of the great desolate moor
The lad was not cultured enough to an.
alyze his own feelings nor, indeed, did he
care about them, and certainly would have
found it impossible to paint in words the
scene before him. Yet not less was he
awed by its sublimity.
It's terrific magnificence excited him,
and its beauty and wild grandeur made
him forget his own small troubles. Un-
consciously there fell on him great deep
calm.
Nature was so great, and the something
behind nature so infinitely grand, that his
soul grew subdued.
God was in the thunder to this peasant
lad; yet he felt only worship-not touch
of fear. .,.
His love for Maggy was too much part
of himself to be forgotten; but for that
hour he was patient, and his resentment
against her father, and against the verdict
Of the country side, sublimated itself into
a heroic endurance and resignation.
And ever through his thoughts he heard
the roar of the stream, the cry of the night
bird in the distance, and the thunder,
growing fainter when the storm at length
began to pass.
Once or twice, as the lightning flashed
and lit for second the whole horizon, he
fancied he saw dark object on the moor,
as though some figure advanced towards
him; but the darkness fell again so quick
ly his mind had barely time to register the
impression the eye conveyed.
Suddenly cry of dismay! A shrill yet
feeble shrek for help; then another, as OF
and Ralph jumps to his feet.
Merciful heaven! There, within his
very reach, is some lost creature being
borne away by the fury of the stream.
Death so close, so close and cruel; the
lads heart beats wildly with longing to
rescue the hapless one from that strong icy
grasp. But, alas the darkness is so deep
he knows not where to fight the foe, and
the seconds seem eternities as he waits,
every nerve at strain.
Again the cry. It is nearer now.
Ralph hesitates no longer. His senses
are trained with the outdoor life he has
led, and with an unerring instinct he meas
ures the distance from the spot whence
comes that awful call.
Wild though the spate may be, it has no
power to check his daring. Into the whit
ened foam he dashes.
The plunge makes him giddy and the
noise confuses; yet he manages to keep
his footing though the force of the current
makes it difficult.
The clouds break little, and there is a
faint light behind them, and he sees hu-
man figure borne on the stream above
him and dashed against an oututting mass
of rock.
It is but second that the downsweep is
stayed by the obstacle; yet it is sufficient
for the young fellow to reach the point and
grasp in his strong arm the stunned and
helpless man.
Thus far he is successful, butnot so quick
ly can the landing be effected. Hampered
as he is by the unconscious weight he
holds, the lad has little power to struggle
though he clutches vainly with the one
hand that is free at every branch of tree,
or twig, or iutting stone that overhangs
the banks.
He grows weary and faint, yet bravely
will not yield.
Fortunately for him, the man he holds
is not conscious enough to impede him by
struggling, and as yet he is able to keep
his own head and that of his helpless bur-
den above water.
A terrible fear is on him, for he knows
they are nearing the lake, and once within
it he will be out of his depth and effort
will be useless, for the inland lad has nev-
er learnt to swim.
The terror gives him strength and nerves
him for one more struggle as he sees a fall
len tree athWart the stream.
With strain that tries every we'll knit
muscle, he gains the bank, and sinks ex-
hausted on the soaking sward, his comrade
in his arms.
A brief moment of cessation from strug-
gle revives him, and, bending oyer the
man he has tried to save, he feel his heart.
Thank heaven, it still beats! Yet how
fcebly! and out there on the bare hillside
what chance has he to revive its exhaust
ed powers
As he so bends the night grows clearer
and star or two shine forth. BY their
light he can see the white set face of the
man for whom he has riSked his very life.
Now he knows it!
It is that one who has treated him cru
elly-one who had vowed never so long as
life should last to look at him save as an
enemy and a traitor-that of old farmer
Wilkinson, the father of his darling.
Good God, if the man should die with
these bitter words unsaid!
Ralph moves the PROSTATE figure into
the shelter Of neighboring fence, raises
the gray head reverently and chafes the
cold thin hands.
It is all he can do, but he is painfully
conscious how little it is, and the tears
fill his kindly honest eyes as he thinks Of
the lonely girl watching for the stern old
man that he knows she loves.
BY and by the closed eyes open and look
into Ralph's face, and the farmer tries to
speak.
"Where is 1? and where's Marjory? 1
seed her plain as the day we were wed,
and she's been gone this sixteen years."
"You tainted, that is all, answers the
lad, gently. "Now you are better I'll run
and fetch help to carry you home. I'll
not be long gone, promise you"
But old Aaron had sunk back into semi
consciousness, and for while Ralph fails
to rouse him.